Phalaenopsis orchid plant named ‘Ballroom’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘Ballroom’ particularly characterized by flowers which are white with some yellow and grey/purple in the labellum; plants which may be propagated economically and uniformly using tissue culture; plants which produce more than one inflorescence; long and sturdy inflorescences; and relatively short, dark-green foliage.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Phalaenopsis hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Ballroom’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceae family, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Ballroom’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 55 species of herbaceous perennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable for cultivation in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantly epiphytic or rock-dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the Malay Archipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy, oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodial growth), which vary in size from 5 to 8 inches to over 2 feet. The leaves may be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in the horticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for the florist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home or interiorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes, often with many showy flowers which open in succession beginning with the lowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; the lateral ones being alike. The lowermost petal, called the labellum, is three-lobed and is often more brightly-colored than the other flower segments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellow and red-brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexual propagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots which frequently arise from the lower bracts of the inflorescence. The resulting plants are detached from the mother plant and may be planted in a suitable substrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Ballroom’ is a product of a controlled breeding program conducted by the inventor, René Schoone, in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a new Phalaenopsis cultivar particularly characterized by its attractive and unique colored flowers, economical propagation via tissue culture, rapid growth, and a plant dimension suitable for packaging and shipping to the market.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Ballroom’ originated from a cross made by the inventor in 2001 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The female or seed parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Hawaiian Dream’, unpatented. The male or pollen parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Premium’, unpatented. The new Phalaenopsis ‘Ballroom’ was discovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in 2009 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis cultivar by tissue culture (mericloning) was first performed in November, 2009 in Cieweg 13, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar asexually reproduces true-to-type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘Ballroom’, which in combination distinguish this Phalaenopsis as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. flowers which are white with some yellow and grey/purple in         the labellum;     -   2. plant produces more than one inflorescence;     -   3. plants may be propagated economically and uniformly using         tissue culture;     -   4. inflorescences are long and sturdy; and     -   5. relatively short, dark-green foliage.

In comparison with the parental cultivars of ‘Ballroom’, the flowers of the female parent ‘Hawaiian Dream’ are about 10 cm in size, whereas the flowers of ‘Ballroom’ are about 11 cm in size. The length of the raceme of the male parent ‘Premium’ is about 60 cm, whereas the length of the raceme of ‘Ballroom’ is about 70 cm.

Presently, the commercial cultivar to which ‘Ballroom’ can be meaningfully compared is ‘Silidream’ (unpatented). On the midlobe of the labellum of ‘Ballroom’ there is some grey/purple, whereas on the midlobe of ‘Silidream’ there is not. Also the flower of ‘Ballroom’ is larger than the flower of ‘Silidream’ and the raceme of ‘Ballroom’ is larger in length than the raceme of ‘Silidream’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Phalaenopsis ‘Ballroom’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of ‘Ballroom’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of a typical flowering plant of ‘Ballroom’ in a 12 cm pot, at 16 months of age.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical flower of ‘Ballroom’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of the typical leaves of ‘Ballroom’

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘Ballroom’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘Ballroom’ as grown in a greenhouse in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Initially, the ideal temperature to grow plants of ‘Ballroom’ is 27° C. during the day and at night. Then, during the flowering phase of ‘Ballroom’, the ideal growing temperature is 20-22° C. during the day and 18° C. at night. Light levels for growing ‘Ballroom’ are a minimum of 5,000 lux and a maximum of 10,000 lux. A balanced fertilizer with level of 200 ppm N, 87 ppm P, 168 ppm K is applied. Duration of growth of ‘Ballroom’ from potting size is between 10 and 14 months.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 2007 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately noon in Zaandammerweg, Assendelft, The Netherlands. The age of the ‘Ballroom’ plants described is 12 months after potting.

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrida. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated             ‘Hawaiian Dream’, unpatented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated             ‘Premium’, unpatented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Tissue culture.         -   Rooting habit and description.—Fleshy; approximately 3 mm-6             mm wide and greyed/green in color (RHS 190C); freely             branching. It takes 12 weeks for plants growing in tissue             culture to initiate roots. -   Plant:     -   -   Size at maturity.—Height (from bottom of pot to highest             flower): about 70 cm. Spread: about 60 cm.         -   Growth habit.—Standard; green leaves (RHS N137A) and a             relatively normal raceme.         -   Vigor.—Moderate.         -   Crop time.—Following asexual propagation, at about 26 weeks             2 leaves appear; at about 30 weeks 3-4 leaves appear; after             a cold treatment of about 4-8 weeks at a temperature of             about 19° C. about 1 to 2 racemes with flowers appear. -   Foliage:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 6-8 leaves are produced before             flowering.         -   Arrangement and attachment.—Half up/horizontal and on two             sides.         -   Overall shape of leaf.—Oval; the tip is blunt and             asymmetric.         -   Texture (upper & underside).—Smooth and leathery.         -   Pubescence.—None.         -   Mature leaf length.—About 23 cm.         -   Mature leaf width.—About 10 cm.         -   Mature leaf thickness.—About 2 mm.         -   Mature leaf color.—Upper side: green (RHS N137A). Under             side: green (RHS 137C).         -   Leaf base.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Venation.—Pattern: parallel. Color of midvein: Upper side:             green (RHS 139A). Under side: green (RHS 138A). -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, racemose             inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open             in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.         -   Raceme.—Quantity per plant: about 1 to 2. Number of flowers             per raceme: about 10-15. Length: about 70 cm.         -   Peduncle.—Diameter: about 5 mm. Strength: strong. Aspect:             upright. Texture: glabrous and smooth. Color: green (RHS             137A) with brown (RHS 200A). Internode: Length: about 50 mm.         -   Buds.—Height (from base to tip): about 28 mm. Diameter (at             midpoint): about 26 mm. Shape: oval/egg-shaped. Color:             yellow/green (RHS 145B and RHS 145C) with a red/purple haze             (RHS 71A). Orientation: same as flowers (forward facing).         -   Flowering time.—For an untreated plant (flowering plant that             has not undergone cold-treatment where the plant grows at a             temperature of 18° C. to 19° C. for about 4 to 8 weeks after             a period of about 30 weeks at a temperature of 25° C.), 1-2             racemes appear with flower buds and flowers. First flowers             can be expected approximately 4 to 6 months after planting a             plant with a leaf diameter of 3 to 5 cm. Flowers persistent.         -   Flowering longevity.—On the plant: about 4 to 6 months;             lastingness of cut flowers: has not been observed.         -   Fragrance.—No fragrance.         -   Flower.—Rate of opening: Flowers fully opened about 2 to 3             days after petal and sepal separation. Orientation at             opening: slanted upward and outward. Shape: Typical shape of             Phalaenopsis, see FIG. 2. Size (of single bloom): Height:             about 90 mm. Diameter: about 110 mm. Quantity and             arrangement: three petals and three sepals that are             trimerous, overlapping and arranged in 2 whorls. Petals are             more pronounced than sepals.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Inner whorl comprises 3 petals: 2             lateral petals and labellum. 2 lateral petals: Overall             shape: broadly ovate and weakly cupped. Apex: oval. Margin:             entire and weakly undulate. Base: broadly ovate. Length:             about 68 mm. Width: about 52 mm. Texture: Upper surface:             smooth and satiny. Under surface: smooth and satiny. Color             (when fully opened): Upper side: white (RHS NN155D). Under             side: white (RHS NN155D). Labellum: Overall shape: 3-lobed             with 2 prominent callosities at central junction of the             lateral lobes and base of the midlobe. Lateral lobes of             labellum fold upward about the column; the midlobe extends             forward and is terminated by 2 filiform appendages at the             apex. Lateral lobes of the labellum are ovate in shape while             the midlobe is triangular with a bump and a rib on it.             Margin: entire and weakly undulate. Apex: oval. Length:             about 24 mm. Width (not flattened): about 25 mm. Depth of             tube created by lateral lobes of labellum: about 11 mm.             Texture: Upper & under surface: smooth and satiny. Color             (when fully opened): Mid lobe, upper side: Main color is             white (RHS NN155D). At the base and the upper edges             grey/purple (RHS 183D). On the middle vein yellow (RHS 5A)             with grey/purple (RHS 183D). Corners are yellow (RHS 5A) and             green/yellow (RHS 1B). Under side: Main color is white (RHS             NN155D). At the base and upper edges grey/purple (RHS 183D).             Corners are yellow (RHS 5A) and green/yellow (RHS 1B). On             the mid vein a yellow haze (RHS 5C). Lateral lobes, upper             side: main color is white (RHS NN155D). Under edge from base             till half way grey/purple (RHS 183D). After that             green/yellow (RHS 1B) and yellow (RHS 5A). At the base also             some red/purple stripes (RHS 59A). Under side: main color is             white (RHS NN155D). At the base and part of the under edge             grey/purple (RHS 183D). Under edge further yellow (RHS 5A)             and green/yellow (RHS 1B). Cirrhi: about 18 mm. color: white             (RHS NN155D) with yellow (RHS 2C). Pestle (Callosities):             Length: about 5 mm. Width (not flattened): about 8 mm.             Color: yellow (RHS 13B) with grey/purple (RHS 183B) spots             and stripes.         -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Outer whorl comprises 3 sepals, one             dorsal and two lateral sepals. Overall shape: elliptical and             weakly cupped. Margin: entire and weakly undulate. Length:             about 45 mm. Width: about 29 mm. Apex: oval lateral is also             a little pointy. Texture: Upper and under surface: smooth             and satiny. Color (when fully opened): Upper side, dorsal:             white (RHS NN155D). Lateral: white (RHS NN155D) with             yellow/green haze (RHS 145C). Under side, dorsal: white (RHS             NN155D) with at the base a yellow/green haze (RHS 145C) and             close to the top a red/purple haze (RHS 77A). Lateral: white             (RHS NN155D) with at the base a yellow/green haze (RHS 145C)             and at the top (also on the end of the vein) a red/purple             haze (RHS 77A).         -   Pedicel.—Length: about 50 mm. Diameter: about 4 mm. Texture:             glabrous and smooth. Color: starting at the flower             green/white (RHS 157D) with a light purple haze (RHS 70B)             which runs into yellow/green (RHS 145A and RHS 145B). -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Arrangement.—The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a             single, short structure called the column, possessing one             terminal anther with pollen grains united into a pollinia,             which are covered by an anther cap. The stigma is located             under the column behind the pollinia. The ovary is inferior             with three carpels present. The plant has not produced seed.         -   Column.—Length: about 9 mm. Diameter: about 5 mm. Color:             white (RHS NN155D).         -   Pollinia.—Quantity: two. Diameter: about 2 mm. Color:             yellow/orange (RHS 23A).         -   Ovary.—Length: about 3 mm. Diameter: about 5 mm. Color:             white (RHS NN155D). -   Disease/pest resistance/susceptibility: No specific resistance or     susceptibility observed. -   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of about 15° C.     and to a high temperature about 30° C. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named ‘Ballroom’, as illustrated and described herein. 